How to Care for Apricot Bushes

Apricots grow on trees as well as bushes, such as the Manchurian bush. The hardy plant is covered in bunches of white/pink flowers in the early spring, which give way to golden yellow fruit in late spring, then a golden orange fall color. It grows fast, developing a round, spreading shape that stays 10 feet tall. This makes picking apricots easy. Apricot bushes grow well in many soil types, but require basic care to flourish.

Things You'll Need

Soil test kit
Shovel
Water

Mulch
Pruning shears

Instructions

- 1
  Check the soil pH. Use a test kit from a nursery or send a sample to a cooperative extension lab. Apricots grow best in pH between 6 and 7.5. Loamy soil is preferred over dry or wet types.
- 2
  Dig a hole in a mostly sunny location. Make it large enough for the entire root mass. Trim off dead roots or roots that have grown too long to fit in the hole.
- 3
  Place the bush in the hole at the same depth it was grown in the nursery. Fill in around the roots and tamp down gently to remove air pockets.
- 4
  Water apricot bushes whenever the soil is dry to the touch 2 inches under the surface. In times of no rain, water the bushes deeply every 10 days to two weeks. If there is plenty of rain, supplemental irrigation may only be needed a few times all summer.
- 5
  Mulch around the base of the bush to keep the soil moist and reduce weeds. Use an organic substance such as manure or compost.
- 6
  Prune off dead or weak branches and limbs. They will not be able to hold the fruit. Remove wood that crosses or rubs each other to improve air circulation. Cut off suckers that grow at the base of the bush, as they will steal water and nutrients from the rest of the plant.

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